Israel

PM Netanyahu is expected to speak on his controversial judicial changes, reports say, after protests hit the country.

Mass protests have erupted in Israel in recent months over controversial judicial reforms pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

This is not a political moment, this is a moment for leadership and responsibility." It is proof that this government has lost its brakes," he said, calling on Netanyahu to walk back his firing of his defense minister. "We must all strive to stabilise the government and coalition." The planned overhaul would significantly weaken the country's judiciary and make it harder to remove Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, from power. McDonald's Israel says it has closed branches as part of the strike action. "Stop this judicial process before it is too late," Arnon Bar-David, Israel's Histadrut union leader, said in a televised speech, addressing Netanyahu directly.

Israeli politics descended into turmoil, with Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline government facing a spiralling backlash to its bitterly contested plans to ...

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The dramatic decision by the Israeli prime minister to sack Yoav Gallant sparks massive demonstrations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israel has been gripped by ...

We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens. The eyes of the entire Jewish people are on you. The eyes of the whole world are on you. The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you. "Come to your senses now! In a statement after his sacking, Mr Gallant said: "The security of the state of Israel has always been and will always remain the mission of my life." Israel has been gripped by protests for 13 weeks due to judicial reforms that the government is determined to see through despite growing opposition. Critics say Mr Netanyahu has a conflict of interest because of his corruption trial. Deep concern surrounds the entire nation. "For the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of the responsibility, I call on you to stop the legislative process immediately. Opposition leader Yair Lapid tweeted that Mr Netanyahu had become "a threat to the security of the state of Israel". Meanwhile, Mr Herzog said: "I am addressing the prime minister, the members of the government and the companies and members of the coalition: the feelings are difficult and painful.

Protesters have called for the reforms to be scrapped and for the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to resign. His political rivals have spearheaded the ...

The government argues that voters elected it on a promise of reforming the judiciary and attempts to stop it are undemocratic. One reform has already been passed into law - removing the power of the attorney general to pronounce a sitting prime minister as unfit for office. Since the start of the year, huge weekly protests have been held by people opposed to the government's reform plans.

Protesters clash with the police during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 27. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty ...

“The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who has strongly advocated for the reform to be pushed through, opened the door to the possibility of a delay on Monday. The eyes of all the Jewish people are on you. Opponents say the plans threaten the foundations of Israeli democracy. The eyes of the whole world are on you. Some military reservists have pledged to pull out of their service in opposition to the plans, which critics say would undermine the independence of the judiciary. We have been taken hostage by a bunch of extremists with no brakes and no boundaries,” he said. All takeoffs from Israel’s main airport, Ben Gurion Tel Aviv, were halted for several hours because of the strike. Gallant argued for a halt to the judicial reforms in a speech Saturday night, when Netanyahu was out of the country on an official visit to the United Kingdom. For the sake of the unity of Israelis, for the sake of committed responsibility I call on you to halt the legislative procedure immediately.” We are brotherly people,” he said on Twitter. In a statement issued later, Lapid called the past 24 hours “madness,” “loss of control” and “loss of direction.”

The demonstrations were triggered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to fire his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday evening after the ...

- On Monday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called on Netanyahu to stop the plan. The PM was expected to address the nation on Monday morning but he did not. - “I am calling for a general strike,” Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David said in a televised address. “For the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of responsibility, I call on you to stop the legislative process immediately,” Herzog said on Twitter. - “We owe it to the majority of the people to make their voice heard and to continue this important historical correction,” the party said on Monday. - “We must not stop the judiciary reform and must not surrender to anarchy,” Ben-Gvir said on Twitter.

We are deeply concerned by today's developments out of Israel, which further underscore the urgent need for compromise. As the President recently discussed with ...

Democratic societies are strengthened by checks and balances, and fundamental changes to a democratic system should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support. We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens. As the President recently discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition plunged into chaos, after mass overnight protests over the sacking of his defence chief piled pressure ...

"This is a hostile takeover of the State of Israel. "Bring back the country's sanity. Branches of McDonalds were also closed. Shares in Tel Aviv rose around 2%. Shame!" "A situation in which everyone does as they wish is liable to bring about the instant fall of the government and collapse of Likud," he said in a statement.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A powerful partner in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government says the country's proposed judicial overhaul has been delayed ...

“When there’s an opportunity to avoid civil war through dialogue, I, as prime minister, am taking a timeout for dialogue,” Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. In a statement, Ben-Gvir said the interim period would give time for a compromise agreement to be reached with the political opposition. [judicial overhaul plan](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/tens-of-thousands-in-israel-protest-in-effort-to-stop-netanyahus-planned-overhaul-of-nations-judiciary), saying he wanted to give time to seek a compromise over the contentious package with his political opponents.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday agreed to suspend a planned judiciary reform until the next parliament session after nationwide protests ...

"In Netanyahu's new Israel, the slimmest of majorities could decide anything," Sachs wrote. The prime minister himself is currently under investigation on numerous counts of corruption and other charges, meaning he would likely benefit from a weaker judiciary. In short, the proposed judiciary overhaul would severely limit the Israeli Supreme Court's ability to review and strike down laws that it deems unconstitutional. Israel's Leumi Bank also closed branches as part of the demonstrations, while Israeli embassies worldwide have been instructed to join the industrial action, according to a letter seen by Reuters. "I am taking the time out for dialogue," Netanyahu said Monday evening at a press conference, according to a Sky News translation. This will follow the Passover recess in April.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday his controversial plans to weaken the judiciary will be delayed after widespread strikes and protests ...

The cabinet vote would then need to be ratified by a super majority in the parliament. Netanyahu was also condemned by his opponents and a host of former Israeli prime ministers. the vote, in order to give time for discussion,” he added. “We’ve never been closer to falling apart. But months of sustained protests over the plans drew global attention and rocked the country. Netanyahu added that he is “aware of the tensions” and is “listening to the people.”

His proposed changes provoked an outpouring of anger from nearly all parts of Israeli society.

He had previously called for an immediate halt to the plans. In the heart of Jerusalem, around the Knesset, supporters and critics held counter-protests. The prime minister denies any wrongdoing and claims he is the victim of a "witch hunt". He accused an "extremist minority" of trying to divide the nation, and criticised military reservists who had opposed the bill by saying they wouldn't report for duty. His own part in the country's upheaval was not acknowledged. From the main airport to shops and banks - even in hospitals - services were stopped.